Step Right into the Mayan Underworld at Rio Secreto

Here—you quickly learn—time slows down. Only discovered in 2007, the Rio Secreto underground river has been carving out this 8-mile-long cave system for centuries—or even millennia. Though most cave systems in the world are underwater, Rio Secreto is only partially flooded, making it possible to enter and visit the Mayan underworld.

The Gods at Rio Secreto

As you can imagine, this is a mystical place. The Mayans thought this cave system, with its rock formations and strange noises emerging from within, was where the gods liked to hang out.

The Mayans were not far off, either. Certainly, Rio Secreto (“secret river” in English) is still treated as a holy place. The environment is extremely delicate here, so follow your guide’s instructions to the T. At times, they’ll even ask you to sit silently and turn your headlights off. As you’re sunk in thick darkness, hearing amplified, cavernous sounds, you will feel like you’ve stepped into an entirely different world.

The Tour

At only seven people, and five tours per day, the tour groups are kept small, so reserve yours in advance. You’ll be given all the necessary equipment on-site. This includes a wetsuit, life-jacket, water-shoes, and a walking stick. Mind your step the entire time and be careful not to slip on the wet rocks.

Your local guide will explain how the caves are formed and their importance in the local lore. They will also share how to preserve them. One such way is to keep the lighting rigs to a minimum—that means you’ll spend an hour and a half walking around in the dark. If you’re uncomfortable in it, or closed spaces, you might want to sit this one out. That’s also the case if you’re under 4 years old, even if it’s impressive you’ve read this far at such a young age.

The tour over, you’ll be served an exquisite buffet of local food and drinks to recover the energy lost in the Mayan underworld. Save some space for delicious “cochinita pibil”, sopes, and mezcal.

Buy your tickets at https://www.riosecreto.com/